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Venezuela Acts to Ease Dollar Shortage

By

Ezequiel Minaya And

Kejal Vyas

Updated March 19, 2013 7:42 p.m. ET

CARACAS, Venezuela—Venezuela moved Tuesday to get more dollars into importers' hands to curb growing shortages of basic goods and tame a runaway currency black market by creating a complementary foreign-exchange agency that will auction greenbacks.

Officials are taking the step as the country heads into elections to replace late President Hugo Chávez, who died earlier this month after battling cancer for nearly two years. Acting-President Nicolas Maduro will face off on April 14 with opposition leader Henrique Capriles, governor...